Dear John,

We are now just six days away from local elections across England - with one MP, six mayors, and 1,641 councillors (from 23 councils) to be elected.

Parties have been campaigning on important local issues, making bold commitments around service provision, social projects, and town planning. However, if his most recent press conference is anything to go by - Nigel Farage and Reform UK are not too bothered by what’s at stake locally.

Yesterday, Farage delivered a speech and faced a Q&A (from a suspiciously friendly press pack) in Dover. The sole focus of his hour on stage? Immigration.

Despite initially expressing his anger with ‘record-breaking levels’ of legal immigration, he quickly moved on to discuss illegal immigration - namely the ‘invasion’ of Britain through small boats mainly arriving in - yes - Dover.

Try though Farage did to explain his presence in Dover was motivated by his confidence in Reform performing well in the elections to Kent County Council - we all know why he was there.

He was there to blow his favourite political dog-whistle - saying the White Cliffs may as well have a sign across it reading ‘everyone welcome’. Under Reform, however, Britain would ‘discriminate’ who we allow in, to ensure only ‘the right kind of people’ are welcomed here.

Farage proceeded to discuss:

• Britain leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (to be able to control the illegal immigration issue).

• Proposals for a Minister for Deportations.

• Fighting back against the Civil Service and ‘apparatus of the state’ that opposes his immigration policies.

• Ending two tier policing, citing the imprisonment of rioters last summer as an example.

• Scrapping all public and private sector DEI recruitment.

• The criminal record of some Palestinian asylum seekers.

He even questioned the professionalism of doctors and GP practices for ‘over-diagnosing’ some mental health illnesses and SEND patients.

Clearly, Farage was not in Dover to campaign for Reform councillors in Kent and across England, and explain the work his party could do to improve the lives of everyday people - because all of those policies are issues for a national government to legislate on - not a council.

Farage was there to bang the drum for his far-right sensationalist agenda - that ultimately lives and dies with immigration. Trumpian in his tone, Farage once again showed himself to be a one-trick populist pony again yesterday.

At Open Britain, we are wary of the threat posed by Farage and Reform. Their mistruths, lies, and scapegoating presents a dangerous issue for our politics and our democracy - they cannot be allowed to win.

With your support, we’re fighting back:

• We’re exposing the false promises of Farage, Reform, and populism - reminding the British people that this is NOT the answer.

• We’re demanding stronger digital regulation laws - to clamp down on the disinformation and conspiracies pedalled by Farage and Reform, and to prevent a repeat of the violence last August.

• We’re leading a campaign Donald Trump’s involvement in our politics, to ensure he cannot help Farage undermine British democracy as he is doing in America.

Through these commitments and more, we will continue to halt the progress of the far-right, and encourage people to use their democratic rights to stop Farage and Reform.

This work is critical and urgent. We fear next Thursday’s election results will prove this. And to ramp up the fight, we need your support.

Many thanks for standing with us.

All the best,

James Patrick

Campaigns and Content Officer

Open Britain